Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/256

meeting at their wigwam, and resolved that for ever after it would "commemorate the birthday of the illustrious George Washington."

VI.

Mr. Jefferson, after a very pleasant passage, arrived at Norfolk from France on the twenty-third of November, and proceeded soon after to Monticello. His wife had been dead many years, but his two daughters, whom he had educated very carefully in their native country and in Europe, were now grown to womanhood, and the eldest^[1] of them had been awaiting his return to be married to Mr.

1. ↑ Martha Jefferson was born on the twenty-seventh of September, 1772, and was therefore now a little more than seventeen years of age. John Randolph said she was "the sweetest young creature in Virginia;" Mrs. Adams, to whose care she had been intrusted some time in Paris, refers to her with the most affectionate expressions; and Mrs. Smith, the daughter of Mrs. Adams, says, "delicacy and sensibility are read in her every feature, and her manners are in unison with all that is amiable and lovely." While Miss Jefferson, in 1783, was at school in Philadelphia, boarding with Mrs. Trist, (grandmother of Mr. Nicholas P. Trist, who is now the husband of the grand-daughter of Mr. Jefferson,) her father addressed to her the following letter, which has never hitherto been published, and is very interesting as an illustration of his domestic character and his views of the education of women: "Annapolis, November 28, 1783. My dear Patsy: After four days' journey, I arrived here without any accident, and in as good health as when I left Philadelphia. The conviction that you would be more improved in the situation where I have placed you than if still with me, has solaced me on my parting with you, which my love for you has rendered a difficult thing. The acquirements which I hope you will make under the tutors I have provided for you, will render you more worthy of my love; and if they cannot increase it, they will prevent its diminution. Consider the good lady who has taken you under her roof, who has undertaken to see that you perform all your exercises, and to admonish you in all those wanderings from what is right, or what is clever, to which your inexperience would expose you, — consider her, I say, as your mother, as the only person to whom, since the loss with which Heaven has been pleased to afflict you, you can now look up; and that her displeasure or disapprobation, on any occasion, will be an immense misfortune, which, should you be so unhappy as to incur by any unguarded act, think no concession too much to regain her good will. With respect to the distribution of your time, the following is what I should approve: From 8 to 10, practise music. From 10 to 1, dance one day and draw another. From 1 to 2, draw on the day you dance and write a letter next day. From 3 to 4, read French. From 4 to 5, exercise yourself in music. From 5 till bed-time read English, write, &c. Communicate this plan to Mrs. Hopkinson; and, if she approves of it, pursue it. As long as Mrs. Trist remains in Philadelphia, cultivate her affections. She has been a valuable friend to you, and her good sense and good heart make her valued by all who know her, and by nobody on earth more than me. I expect you will write to me by every post. Inform me what books you read, what tunes you learn, and inclose me your best copy of every lesson in drawing. Write also one letter every week, either to your Aunt